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Re: Audio description and captions

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From: Dax Castro
Date: Jan 29, 2024 10:20AM

Currently there are no platforms that allow for synchronized audio descriptions. Basically it is like only being able to have Open Captions on a video. You either burn them into the video and have a video for each language or a transcript alternative.

It is our hope that one day YouTube will allow for the capability to supply audio descriptions as a user selectable feature. We have been lobbying for it for several years.


Thanks,

Dax Castro, ADS
Certified Digital Accessibility Trainer
Accessibility Advocate | IAAP
www.accessibilityUnraveled.com


-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Karen McCall
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2024 4:47 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Audio description and captions

I've been trying to find out an answer to what might be a similar question.

This has more to do with videos that are in a different language.

You would have the "subtitle" track with a translation into another language. For example, if the film's spoken words were in Spanish and the "subtitles" were in English.

This would not be classified as captions because I would imagine that the captions would reflect the Spanish spoken words.

What does WCAG say about dubbed or subtitled multimedia?

I would imagine that the video description would be in the "subtitle" track as the "subtitle" or translated track should be available to those who need/want it.

Is there a mechanism to choose whether someone wants captions or subtitles/video descriptions?

I am often at a loss in understanding plots when languages change in films/multimedia and I don't have access to hearing the subtitle text.

Cheers, Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Steve Green
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2024 6:41 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Audio description and captions

Thanks, Patrick. Anyone have a contrary view?

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Patrick H. Lauke
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2024 11:34 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Audio description and captions

On 29/01/2024 11:19, Steve Green wrote:
> This may be a silly question. In short, if an audio described version of a video is provided, do the captions need to include the audio description?

While it may seem redundant, I'd say the easiest interpretation is that yes, all AD content should also be captioned - if something's spoken (regardless of whether it's the original video's audio, or additional AD), caption it, as I don't think there's enough normative text that would warrant a more nuanced "but surely the AD is redundant since they can see the visuals" logical exemption (though I may be wrong?)

P
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Patrick H. Lauke

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